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Celiac-Safe Eateries

In the Ashtabula Harbor, Ohio — the best barbecue you can find, and much of the food is gluten-free. Just ask for gluten-free and they’ll take good care of you. Call 440-964-BBQD (440-964-2273) with questions. On a recent visit I had baby back ribs with potato salad and stewed greens. Every time I’ve been there, I’ve had a variety of their unique creations to choose from. You can see the menu here. And be sure you try one of their milkshakes. It’s worth a trip down to the Harbor just for one of those. (They have malteds, too, which I hear are also wonderful.)

If you need to eat gluten-free, you know that it’s hard to find a restaurant to enjoy without worrying about cross-contamination, etc. I’ve never had a problem at Briquettes! Once in awhile we go somewhere else, too, but usually when we’re hungry for dinner out, we end up heading here.

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Red Lobster

For crab legs, lobster, fresh fish, shrimp, chicken or steak, Red Lobster has gluten-free entrees and more. While they don’t guarantee a gluten-free dinner, they provide recommendations for ordering, which I received in an email when I contacted them via their website.

You can read part of their reply here:

March 16, 2010

…Thank you for your interest in Red Lobster; it is always a pleasure to hear from our guests.

We appreciate your interest in our menu and the availability of gluten-free items in our restaurants. While we cannot guarantee anything on our menu is gluten-free, we can suggest several menu selections with modifications you should request when ordering. Prior to placing your order, please let your server or the manager-on-duty know that you or someone in your party is gluten intolerant.

Suggested items with noted special preparation instructions:

Appetizer

Chilled Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail – without the cocktail sauce

Salad

Order without croutons and use oil and vinegar dressing

Entrees

North Pacific King Crab Legs – steamed and served with melted butter Snow Crab Legs – steamed and served with melted butter Live Maine Lobster – steamed and served with melted butter Any “Today’s Fresh Fish” – broiled without seasonings Shrimp – broiled without seasonings or sauces

*Check with the manager-on-duty to ensure chicken or steak items have not been pre-marinated.

While Red Lobster has made diligent efforts to provide complete and current gluten-content information, our kitchens are not allergen-free environments. Changes in recipes, as well as the hand-crafted nature of our food, may result in variations in the ingredient profile of any item.

Red Lobster does not assume any liability for your use of this information. Guests with any special food sensitivities or dietary needs should not rely solely on this information as the basis for deciding whether to consume a particular menu item, and are individually responsible for ensuring that any such menu item meets their individual dietary requirements. Any medical concerns regarding the consumption of these items should be directed to your physician or other healthcare provider. If you would like to speak personally with a Red Lobster representative, …[please see Note below].

Thank you for taking the time to contact us.

Sincerely,

…Guest Relations Representative

Note: Red Lobster’s website has a page about their Allergy Information which provides a phone number to call or an email address to contact them if you want for questions about menu items.

A number of times I’ve eaten at Red Lobster Restaurants — at different locations — and found their staff to be helpful and their food quite good. Basically, I follow the guidelines they suggest, and I’ve not been glutened there.

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Outback Steakhouse

For lots of choices of gluten-free dishes, go to Outback Steakhouse. Their food and their service have been outstanding when I’ve been there, and it’s easy to find something to like on their gluten-free menu…a whole menu, full of gluten-free food! You can see it online here.

The last time I ate there I had Victoria’s Filet, which really was tender and juicy, just like the menu states! I also had the Garlic Mashed Potatoes (mmmm-mmmm, they were excellent).

The menu says that Outback Steakhouse provides the menu information in cooperation with the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG), as a service to their customers, and they are not responsible for its use and for information which hasn’t been verified by the restaurant. Visitors are encouraged to consider that according to their individual needs.

Hi Sue — I have been to Applebee’s several times and found that, while they did have menu items that appeared to be gluten-free, the servers explained that their set-up made cross-contamination hard to avoid. Since I am very sensitive to gluten, that meant that I enjoyed a great cup of coffee while my friends ate.

“…Please be aware that during normal kitchen operations involving shared cooking and preparation areas, including common fryer oil, the possibility exists for food items to come in contact with other food products. Due to these circumstances, we are unable to guarantee that any menu item can be completely free of allergens.”

I greatly appreciate Applebee’s making this clear, both online and through their servers. The staff has always been helpful and knowledgeable when I’ve asked questions. The last time I was there, since it was late in the evening and time for dessert, I ordered a scoop of vanilla ice cream along with my coffee.

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